Takoma Hosts the 7th Annual Art Hop Arts Fest

Event: Saturday and Sunday April 25-26, 2015

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The 7th annual Art Hop arts fest will take place in Takoma (Takoma Park, MD to the Takoma neighborhood of Washington, DC) on Saturday and Sunday April 25-26, 2015. The event pairs over 70 artists, working in a variety of media, with the independent shops and restaurants of Takoma.

The weekend kicks off with an Opening Night Reception on Friday, April 24th at Takoma Central, 235 Carroll St NW, with music from jazz bassist and vocalist Nicole Saphos. Food and beverage will be provided local by businesses including Republic, Capital City Cheesecake, Number 1 Sons, and S&S Liquors.

Saturday starts at 11am with live music from renowned children’s Mr. Skip, followed by entertainment throughout the afternoon including acoustic music from Angie Head, and the Snakehead Run Acoustic Jug Band. A fire show spectacular by Dance Afire will be held on Saturday, April 25th at 7:30pm. An Art Car parade will be held Sunday at 10am, featuring art cars from the DC and Baltimore areas as well as the SOGH Art Truck at the Farmer’s Market. From 12-5pm, The Lab will host national competitors for the Rock the Box Breakin’ Tournament at the Takoma Park Middle School.

Other special events that weekend include numerous meet the artists receptions, a behind the scenes tour of the Washington National Opera costume shop, open artists studios at DC Arts Studios and a creativity workshop lead by Elle Luna at Politics and Prose at Busboys and Poets Takoma. A full schedule will be available on the website.

“This is such a fun event and a great way to get to know Takoma and all that it has to offer,” Executive Director Laura Barclay said. “We are very excited to be hosting so many talented artists in our local businesses again this year.”

A free public trolley will circle through Takoma to help visitors explore all weekend, including stops at the Takoma Metro and the popular Takoma Park Farmers Market on Sunday. The event is accessible via the Takoma stop on Metro’s Red Line.

Art Hop arts fest is presented by the Old Takoma Business Association which works to bring together businesses, residents and community organizations dedicated to developing a vibrant market center, from the Takoma Junction, Maryland to the Takoma Theatre, DC, and to enhance Old Takoma’s unique and historic town setting. The OTBA works on issues essential to locally owned, independent businesses and to a thriving community through its Main Street Takoma program which was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to assist towns in community revitalization.